Car-coupling



(No Mqdel.)

P. HARDY.

GAR COUPLING. No. 357,924;

Patented Feb. 15, .1887.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\ FREDERICK HARDY, OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.

CAR-COUPLING.

h SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 357,924, dated February 15, 1887.

Application filed January 6, 1887. Serial No. 223,567. (No model.)

To azz whom it may concern! Be it known that I, FREDERICK HARDY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Norfolk, in the county of Norfolk and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oar-Couplings; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to car-couplers, and in common. with such devices has for its object to devise a means whereby the cars can be coupled or uncoupled without the necessity of the brakeman going between the cars for the purpose.

The improvement consists in the novel features, hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and shown in the annexed drawings, which- 'Figure 1 is a plan view of the proximate ends of two cars or truckscoupled together by my improved coupler, the releasingshaft being shown in an adjusted position by dotted lines; Fig.2, a side View, parts'broken away, showing the couplingpin down by full lines and up by dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a side view, parts broken away, of the coupler on an enlarged scale, showing the operation of the same; Fig. 4, a front view of the coupler.

The cars A and B are provided with the bumper-blocks a and b, respectively, and are coupled together by the draw-bar G, secured to one car and provided with the couplingpinD and the link E, secured to theother car. Each end of the car may be provided with a draw-bar and coupling-pin, and the link be carried by one of the draw-bars, or one end of the car may be provided with the draw-bar and couplingpin only, and theopposite end have the link E secured thereto, so it (the link) can have a limited lateral and vertical movement.

The end of the car having the draw-bar will be arranged opposite the end of the car having the link, so that the cars can couple when run together. The outer end of the link is supported by the hanger F. The forward end of the draw-bar flares outward laterally and downward, forming the mouth G, which guides the link into the threat 9 in the body of the draw-bar, which draw-bar has the opening it formed vertically therethrough, in which the coupling-pin D is pivotally supported. The front end, d, of the coupling-pin extends forward of the slot or opening h, and rests upon the draw-bar and prevents the pin falling through when down. The hook projects across the throat g and is adapted to engage with the link when thrust into the same. The rear end, d curves slightly downward, to prevent the link E catching behind the pin, and also to prevent the rebound of the coupling-pin when the cars are forcibly run together. The upper or front portion of the coupling-pin is the heavier, so that when thrown up it rests against the front end of the car and is supported in a nearly vertical position. The coupling-pin is pivotally supported above the throat in the draw-bar, and when turned up the lower portion extends across the throat and is struck by the link when entering. This throws the pin down and the hook d engages with the link and couples the cars. If the pin is already down and the cars are run together, the link entering the draw-bar will strike the front side of the hook and elevate the pin sufficiently far to permit the passage of the link under and behind the hook, which is curved on its front, side. l

The cars are uncoupled by the. releasing-bar H, journaled to the front of the car, to one side of the draw-bar, and having the tappet h projectingdaterally therefrom near its inner. end,

which tappet is adapted to engage with the arm I, projecting from the side of the pin. To uncouple the cars, the releasing-bar is partially rotated in its bearings, which brings the tappet in contact with the armI of the couplingpin, and, lifting the same, elevates the coupling-pin and disengages it from the link. The coupling-pin can be locked down by the releasing-bar, which has a longitudinal sliding movement in its bearings for bringing its innet end in engagement therewith. The releasing-bar is moved by the handle J, which projects laterally therefrom in the same direction as the tappet, and is adapted to depend on either side of the stop j to limit the movement of and prevent the accidental displacement of the releasing-bar, the inner end of which is adapted to enter the opening (1 in the coupling-pin and lock the same, as before stated.

The stop 9 projects laterally from the plate j, secured to the end of the car, and a second stop, j, projects from the same plate. The outer end of the releasing-bar works between the stops, which are located a distance apart equal to the diameter of the bar. The outer ends of the stops arein the same vertical plane, but the inner end of the stop projects beyond the end of the stop 7' and prevents the handle J turning up when the pin is locked down.

To unlock the pin, the handle is turned into a horizontal position. This brings it opposite the space between the stops, and moved outward between the stops, as will be readily understood.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. The combination, with the coupling-pin, of the releasing-bar having a rotary move" ment to uneouple the cars and a longitudinal movement to lock the coupling-pin down, substantially as set forth.

near its front end. and having an opening at its rear, of the releasingbar mounted in bearings and having a rotary and longitudinal sliding motion, for the purpose described, and having the tappet projecting laterally therefrom, substantially as and for the purpose described.

8. The combination, with the coupling-pin and the releasing bar having a rotary and 1ongitudinal sliding movement, of the plate having stops embracing the outer end of the releasing-bar, the outer ends of the stops being in the same plane and the inner 'end of the upper stop projecting beyond theinn'er end of the lower stop, and the handle projecting laterally from the outer end of said releasing bar, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

R. H. WRIGHT, W. A. GoDwIN. 

